Sonjay Dutt is interviewed by Jeremy Borash at the Fan Fest in Nashville in June 2007. Photo by Bob Kapur

Retech Bhalla dared to be different.

Bhalla became a professional wrestler, taking the name Sonjay Dutt and becoming a very good ring technician. This flew in the face of his culture, but The Original Playa from the Himalaya meant no disrespect.

"In the Indian culture, every child should be a doctor or a lawyer," says Dutt over the phone. "I chose a different path. I followed my dream. If you don't pursue your dreams, you never know what could have happened.

"My parents, I think, thought I would come to my senses sooner or later. They said I could be a wrestler as long as I went to school (he got a Bachelor of Education degree in 2004)."

Dutt is one of the high flyers who make TNA's X Division so X-cellent and unique. When given the time and spotlight, the X Division matches have been known to steal the show.

"We're proving that small guys can draw," said Dutt, who stands 5-foot-8 and weighs 185 lbs. "We can hang with the big, muscled guys."

Dutt was on TNA's recent Canadian tour, with stops in Montreal, Quebec City, Gatineau and Oshawa (Toronto's neighbour to the east which, they say, may soon land a TNA pay-per-view after a very strong showing of about 4,000 spectators). He says the Canadian fans are always awesome.

"The Canadian fans are starving for good wrestling," said Dutt. "I love performing in front of them. They've got a passion for wrestling that's sometimes lacking in the U.S."

AROUND THE RING

William Regal is in Vince McMahon's bad books and Ric Flair lives to fight another day. Triple H was DQ'd when Regal slugged Flair with brass knuckles ... McMahon will appear a few times on Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice this season ... Jonathan Coachman will replace JBL on Smackdown!